Question of the day
Thursday, Nov 14, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Twitters…
* The Question: The 2013 Illinois Republican Party was to a a frat house on the last day of college as the 2014 IL GOP will be to ________?
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Foster race attracts yet another GOP candidate
Thursday, Nov 14, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rep. Darlene Senger has a new GOP primary opponent. From what I hear, he’s a pretty good guy, has secured about a quarter million dollars in commitments and could give Senger a real race to face Democratic incumbent Bill Foster…
Bert Miller said he had an epiphany a few weeks back, and it led him to set his sights, and his skill sets, on a new goal.
Flanked by his family and backed by nearly two dozen supporters attired in campaign T-shirts, the longtime Naperville businessman Wednesday morning launched his bid for the U.S. House seat representing the 11th Congressional District next year. The district includes a part of the Aurora area.
Miller, 66, emphasized the experience he accrued over more than three decades as owner of the Naperville plastics manufacturing firm Phoenix Closures, and said it will translate well to lawmaking in the nation’s capital.
* Daily Herald…
The other candidates in the race haven’t raised a huge amount of money. Senger has led the group in fundraising but has taken in far less than some other suburban primary candidates.
The run is Miller’s first try for political office, which contrasts him with Senger and Balkema. Senger has picked up support of local Republican members of Congress such as U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren of Winfield.
Miller is former chairman of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, a major player in Illinois politics.
Aurora private investigator Ian Bayne is also running for the GOP nod.
* Meanwhile, Democratic Congressional candidate Ann Callis didn’t sound all that enthused about welcoming either Gov. Pat Quinn or President Barack Obama to her swing district campaign against freshman Republican Rodney Davis…
On Quinn: “He’s been around the district. I don’t think it’s my choice whether I welcome him or not. . . . I’ve seen him at various events.”
On Obama: “Well, he is the president of the United States. I would never tell the president of the United States not to come to my district.” […]
(W)hile an Obama appearance might help Callis with Democratic voters in the district, it could lose her as many (or more) Republican-leaning independents.
As for Quinn, it’s not clear he’d be all the much help even among Democratic voters in the district, given his Chicago-centric base and general lack of popularity.
* Watch…
* In other news, Congressman Davis is once again coming under fire from his right flank…
A tea party group has launched a campaign to support primary challenges against all 87 Republicans who voted for the deal in late October to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling.
The Tea Party Leadership Fund, a PAC affiliated with the group TheTeaParty.net, began a fundraising push — dubbed the “Primaries for Traitors Fund” — shortly after the shutdown deal passed in the House, and they are now ramping up efforts to find “credible candidates” in each of the districts, said the fund’s treasurer, Dan Backer.
“From our perspective, we see this as a signature vote. You can’t be a conservative and vote to raise the debt ceiling,” Backer said. “I recognize there are some places where voters may actually think that was the right vote. And there may be places where you have an incumbent who wins with 90% of the vote every time and there’s not a credible challenger. I recognize that, but we’re certainly going to do our best.”
Backer says the group has honed in on a few specific members to start: Illinois Rep. Rodney Davis, New York Rep. Peter King, North Carolina Rep. Robert Pittenger, Louisiana Rep. Charles Boustany, and most importantly, Backer said, House Speaker John Boehner in Ohio.
* But…
Despite raising more than $1 million in 2012, the group only spent around $27,000 in support of two Republican candidates last cycle, according to Open Secrets, and no money against Republican incumbents.
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* Don’t expect to see much of Paul Vallas on the campaign trail any time soon…
Departing Schools Superintendent Paul Vallas told the Board of Education on Tuesday night that his focus would be on the district, and not on running for lieutenant governor of Illinois, during the remainder of his tenure here.
Try as they might, however, board members could not pin him down to an exit date. […]
Vallas said he gets vacation and personal days just like every other superintendent.
“There is no primary. There is no race to run,” he said. “Obviously, I will work with the board to transition. I took one personal day.” […]
“I anticipate I will spend 99 percent in the district, maybe more,” Vallas said. “I intend on being a full-time superintendent until the transition period is over.”
He has a 60-day notice clause in his contract, but the local school board has to vote to start the countdown. So far, that hasn’t happened.
* Vallas also got some good news today. Hey, a TKO is still a win…
The Connecticut Supreme Court has overturned the ruling of a judge who ordered Bridgeport Superintendent of Schools Paul Vallas removed from his job because he was not qualified. […]
A state judge ruled in July that Vallas improperly received a waiver to state certification requirements.
However, the Supreme Court overturned the ruling, saying the plaintiffs did not bring their challenge of Vallas’ credentials to state education officials first.
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Today’s Dillard quotes
Thursday, Nov 14, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* For whatever reason, the Chicago media has mostly taken a pass on covering the day to day aspects of the Republican gubernatorial primary. I’ve found it fascinating and at times more than little entertaining. But, hey, this is a state politics blog. It’s what we do.
But because of this lack of coverage, things like Sen. Kirk Dillard’s much more strenuous effort to accentuate his right-wing credentials this time around are going mostly unnoticed. Tom Kacich at the Champaign News Gazette got a first hand look at a Dillard event this week, however, and covered what he saw…
Dillard is a state senator from Hinsdale and a disciple of former Gov. Jim Edgar. But unlike Edgar, his gubernatorial campaign has taken a hard right turn this year, and he spoke out Wednesday against gay marriage, gun control and welfare spending.
* Dillard on welfare…
Dillard attacked Illinois Democrats for welfare and social service spending, saying that “the lion’s share” of the 2011 income tax increase “went to expand the welfare rolls in Illinois.”
Um, the “lion’s share” of the $7+ billion tax hike money has been spent on funding the state’s pension payments, which had been skipped, or skimped on or borrowed to cover for years.
Human service program spending has risen, but not by a huge amount, and state Medicaid spending took some big cuts last year.
* Gay marriage…
“I saw a couple of you at the traditional marriage rally at the state Capitol a week ago. I found it incredible that I had to stand in the Capitol building in my own state and defend traditional marriage and then get criticized for it,” he said. “I kind of shook my head as the father of a 12-year-old and a 10-year-old, wondering where society is going when I’ve got to do that.”
When does he start pushing for repeal?
* Madigan…
“…I am the antidote to Pat Quinn, and I am the guy who can get (Democratic House Speaker) Mike Madigan to do things he doesn’t want to do.”
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* From a press release…
Scheduled for approximately the same time that Gov. Pat Quinn signs into Illinois law the redefinition of civil marriage, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki will offer “Prayers of Supplication and Exorcism in Reparation for the Sin of Same-Sex Marriage” at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Sixth and Lawrence streets in Springfield, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, from 4 to 5 p.m. Clergy, religious and laity are invited to attend. […]
Bishop Paprocki said that since same-sex marriage is contrary to the plan of God (see Genesis 1:27 and 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9), those who contract civil same-sex marriage are culpable of serious sin. He also noted that politicians who enacted civil same-sex marriage legislation are “morally complicit as co-operators in facilitating this grave sin.”
“It is scandalous that so many Catholic politicians are responsible for enabling the passage of this legislation and even twisting the words of the pope to rationalize their actions despite the clear teaching of the church,” he said. “All politicians now have the moral obligation to work for the repeal of this sinful and objectionable legislation. We must pray for deliverance from this evil which has penetrated our state and our church.”
* He also referenced some comments made by the Pope back when he was a Cardinal…
Regarding the proposed redefinition of civil marriage in Argentina, then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio wrote on June 22, 2010: “The Argentine people must face, in the next few weeks, a situation whose result may gravely harm the family. It is the bill on matrimony of persons of the same sex. The identity of the family, and its survival, are in jeopardy here: father, mother, and children. The life of so many children who will be discriminated beforehand due to the lack of human maturity that God willed them to have with a father and a mother is in jeopardy. At stake is the total rejection of God’s law engraved in our hearts. … Let us not be naive: it is not a simple political struggle; it is an intention [which is] destructive of the plan of God. It is not a mere legislative project (this is a mere instrument), but rather a ‘move’ of the father of lies who wishes to confuse and deceive the children of God.”
Bishop Paprocki noted, “The pope’s reference to the ‘father of lies’ comes from the Gospel of John (8:44), where Jesus refers to the devil as ‘a liar and the father of lies.’ So Pope Francis is saying that same-sex ‘marriage’ comes from the devil and should be condemned as such.”
It’ll be interesting to see how the GOP gubernatorial candidates respond to this demand for repeal.
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Speaking of big money
Thursday, Nov 14, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
…Rauner’s decision to now bust the self-funding cap comes as the Democratic Governors Association formed a so-called super political action committee last week to financially assist Quinn’s bid for a second elected term.
The Jobs and Opportunity for Illinois PAC will be allowed to raise and spend unlimited money in independent expenditures to assist Quinn’s re-election. Even if Rauner had stayed below the self-funding threshold, once the super PAC spent more than $250,000 any limits on campaign donations would have been lifted.
As mentioned above, this is an independent expenditure committee. So far, there’s no money in its bank account, but it’s being formed awful early, so it could, I suppose, conceivably be used to finance ads against Rauner in the GOP primary.
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Pension reform session date eyed
Thursday, Nov 14, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I told subscribers about this yesterday afternoon…
A top aide to House Speaker Michael Madigan told Illinois lawmakers Wednesday to be ready for a special session in Springfield in December, emailing them shortly after legislative leaders met to discuss solutions to the state’s $100 billion pension crisis.
Madigan Chief of Staff Tim Mapes told Democrats in the email to reserve time for a “possible” session beginning Dec. 3. He also asked them to “keep other days that week available.” Senate President John Cullerton later sent an email to Senate Democrats, asking them to keep Dec. 3-4 open.
Voting on a pension plan isn’t specifically mentioned in either email, but Madigan spokesman Steve Brown told The Associated Press that pensions were “the likely reason” that the legislature would return. […]
Dec. 3 is the day after the deadline for candidates to file paperwork for the 2014 campaign, including anyone challenging incumbents. The timing is important because scheduling a vote on a divisive issue such as pension reform after the filing deadline would remove the threat for some lawmakers of a primary challenge based on their decision.
* Finke…
House Republicans also received the email.
A spokeswoman for Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, said the leaders are still waiting for actuaries to verify what the potential savings could be from various reform proposals, a practice referred to as “scoring.”
“The numbers are what determine whether these concepts work,” said Patty Schuh. “We are still awaiting numbers.”
“The leaders continue to make progress,” said Vicki Crawford, spokeswoman for House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs. “They are still waiting on scoring from the systems. We are simply telling members to be prepared for a possible return to Springfield.”
* McKinney…
The date that the leaders are zeroing in on is significant on the political calendar. Candidates seeking a spot on the 2014 primary ballot have to file their nominating petitions with the state by Dec. 2.
While there is no deal yet on pensions, incumbents in both parties would be spared the possibility of labor-driven primary challenges if they are asked to vote on pension-reform legislation after the nominating petition filing deadline. […]
Durkin spokeswoman Vicki Crawford said there is no consensus yet, but the aim is to strike a deal by the end of the year.
“They’re making progress. We’re still waiting for numbers,” she said. “No deal yet.”
The leaders have been meeting since the first week of veto session and they’re making progress. This vote is fast becoming a reality.
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Quinn plays dodgeball in Springfield presser
Thursday, Nov 14, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Pat Quinn was determined to avoid answering some questions at his press conference yesterday. On the Chicago Park District pension reform bill, for instance, he said…
“We’ll look at that bill as we do every other bill,” Quinn said, “and look at it very carefully, and make a decision based on how I feel the merits are.”
* More…
Quinn was asked three times about keeping the income tax increase. He opted to discuss pensions instead.
“I’ve said before, you know, our No. 1 focus has to be on pension reform,” Quinn said, adding, “You don’t want to put the cart before the horse.”
* More…
Pressed on why he wouldn’t directly answer the question, Quinn responded: “A budget is based on what your costs are. We don’t know what our pension costs are until we really address the pension-reform issue. That is the No. 1 budget challenge that we have.
“You don’t want to put the cart before the horse,” Quinn continued. “I think you need to know what your expenditures are and what the pension requirements are, and I hope we can come up with a pension-reform measure that is good for those who receive retirement income as well as for the taxpayers,” he said.
* More…
Efforts to increase penalties for gun crimes? “When it comes to anything with public safety and criminal justice, I think we need to do it in a comprehensive way; a way that protects the public. I’ve signed bills dealing with those who commit crimes with guns.”
What about whether the income tax rate should stay at 5 percent after 2014? “We don’t know what are pension costs are, until we really address the pension reform issue.”
Pension reform was also his answer to a question of whether lawmakers will return to Springfield between now and the end of 2013. As for what sort of corporate tax breaks the state should be offering, the governor walked away. The news conference took all of 20 minutes and included the presentation to Quinn of a pink guitar autographed by country music star Carrie Underwood.
* And…
Wednesday’s event was the latest in a series of taxpayer-financed fly-arounds Quinn has scheduled to highlight construction projects heading into the 2014 election season.
In addition to praising changes being made to the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield, the governor also made pit stops in East Alton and Peru.
While he wouldn’t discuss the pension proposal, Quinn did say the $4 million in state funds to upgrade the convention center was money well spent.
“We want Brad Paisley to be very happy,” the governor said, pointing to the country music star’s upcoming visit to the facility.
* Raw audio…
* In contrast, Metro East reporters attending Quinn’s Alton presser basically gave him a pass on everything yesterday…
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* If you think controlling Paul Vallas is gonna be tough for the Quinnsters, controlling Vallas’ brother Dean could end up being a nightmare.
Dean Vallas used his significant wealth to steer his brother’s ill-fated 2002 gubernatorial campaign. It didn’t go well. Eight years later, Dean backed Republican Sen. Bill Brady against Gov. Quinn. Carol Felsenthal recalls her 2010 interview with Paul Vallas’ mercurial brother…
I described Dean, a resident of Palos Park, as “the ringleader” that year in recruiting Democrats to support Brady, who is not only a Republican but a conservative Republican. Dean told me that he had signed on to back Brady before the Republican primary, and that his title was Cook County finance co-chairman. […]
But the 2010 gubernatorial race was different, Dean—a retired owner of restaurants and a food service company—argued. The very future of the state depended on businessman Brady vanquishing lifelong politician Quinn. Vallas was lavish in his praise of Brady, calling him “completely independent,” a man who “has been in business [a family home construction company] for his whole life, has had to meet a payroll—knows what it’s like not to sleep on Friday night because you can’t make the Saturday payroll.”
Most important, Dean said, was that Brady was not part of “the old guard” (Mike Madigan, et al) who have “made a mess of the state.” He gave Quinn his due as “a real good man” but one who lacked “the political skills to navigate around a Mike Madigan.” […]
In the wake of Brady’s loss to Quinn, Dean Vallas told me, “I’ve never worked that hard for a Republican candidate,” but added that his work was not so much “anti-Quinn as pro-Brady.” He said that had Brady eked out a victory he would have “fully engaged the legislature” and “basically you would have had a democracy back in Springfield.”
Discuss.
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Rauner triggers candidate self-defense law
Thursday, Nov 14, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
Wealthy Republican governor candidate Bruce Rauner is adding $500,000 of his own money to his campaign, an amount that will trigger a provision allowing his three GOP rivals and Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn to raise unlimited amounts from contributors.
Much of the Rauner’s money will be spend on a new series of ads set to begin airing Friday on broadcast and cable TV, two sources close to the campaign said Wednesday. The new ad continues a theme in which Rauner contrasts his inexpensive wristwatch with a critique of “Pat Quinn’s watch” over Illinois government spending.
The commercials will mark the beginning of what one of the sources described as the start of an “intensive and sustained” presence on television as the first-time candidate tries to introduce himself to potential voters. It’s also a further display of Rauner’s campaign wealth relative to his Republican rivals.
Rauner’s latest cash influx was to have been made Wednesday, the sources said, and show up in campaign finance disclosure forms as required by early next week. Rauner, an equity investor from Winnetka, will have donated $749,000 to his own campaign. That will bring to nearly $4 million the amount generated since he began his bid earlier this year.
* Ormsby…
In the new ad, which primarily attacks Governor Pat Quinn, Rauner, speaking to the camera, ditches his trademark hunting jacket, flannel shirt and rural background stage in previous ads for a brown, sleeve-less fleece-like zipper vest, button-down shirt, and a suburban kitchen.
* Rate the new ad…
* Script…
This old watch cost me 18 bucks. Pretty cheap, but it gets the job done.
Pat Quinn’s watch in Springfield - just the opposite. Record spending, taxes, job losses, and one of the worst run governments in America.
I’m Bruce Rauner. I’m a business guy, not a politician. I’m running for governor to turn our state around; to send a message to the special interests and career politicians who created this mess: your time - it’s up.
* Caps explained…
Before this week, Rauner was just $1,000 shy of the threshold to take off the caps — having given $249,000 of his own money. He’s now given $749,000 of his own money into his campaign. He has not disclosed his upper limit, but aides have said he would do what it takes to win.
Under state law, candidates can only accept contributions of up to $5,300 from individuals and $52,600 from political action committees.
But those caps are lifted for everyone in a campaign if any statewide candidate or member of the candidate’s immediate family contributes or loans more than $250,000 to his or her campaign during the 12 months prior to an election.
So Rauner’s latest infusion allows all three other Republicans, as well as Quinn on the Democratic side, to accept contributions of any size.
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Senger: “Vivid demonstration of failure”
Wednesday, Nov 13, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a press release…
DARLENE SENGER CALLS ILLINOIS OBAMACARE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS
“A VIVID DEMONSTRATION OF FAILURE”
NAPERVILLE –State Representative Darlene Senger, Republican candidate for the 11th Congressional District, issued the following statement in response to government officials announcing that in the first month of enrollment only 1,370 eligible Illinois residents have enrolled in the ACA.
“Illinois has spent over $25 million on top of the federal government’s multi-million dollar website, to enroll the hundreds of thousands of eligible citizens into the Affordable Care Act–but the situation is going from bad to worse. Illinois taxpayers are getting fleeced while people who need health care coverage cannot access it and people who have health care coverage are losing it. Washington needs to consider immediately delaying the individual mandate and disclosing the true impact and costs of ACA, specifically why so many Illinois families are losing their coverage. We are witnessing a vivid demonstration of failure that is truly impacting people’s access to quality healthcare.”
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Ah, the good old days
Wednesday, Nov 13, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois Review has published a piece by Robert Klein Engler who wants Gov. Pat Quinn, Rep. Marty Moylan and others excommunicated from the Catholic Church. Moylan used Pope Francis’ statement about gay people “Who am I to judge?” to justify his vote for the gay marriage bill.
Engler is upset that Cardinal George has remained silent…
At one time, Cardinals in Chicago did speak up. In the summer of 1966, Lou Christie’s song ‘Rhapsody in the Rain’ was banned from airplay on WLS and WCFL–the two major pop stations in Chicago at the time, and the nation’s 2nd largest radio market.
The song was banned because of the objections of John Cardinal Cody. “The Cardinal thought that the rhythmic windshield wipers while “makin’ out in the rain” and “makin’ love in the storm,” were just a little too morally corrosive…”
* I’d never heard of that song before. Here it is…
Suffice it to say, Cardinal Cody probably did Chicago radio listeners a big favor.
* Anyway, back to Engler…
How can [the Cardinal] allow elected Catholic officials to go forward with an insult to all Catholics? If the Cardinal reasons that he cannot carry through with this excommunication, then he should give Catholics in the archdiocese an explanation as to why they must tolerate this insult to his office and the Church. […]
See how the mighty have fallen over 50 years in Illinois. Once, a Cardinal with ears wide open, had a song banned from the radio. Some say he was objecting to what could be considered only a venial sin. Another Cardinal, today, with eyes wide open, refuses to stop the Democratic enemies of the Church from inflicting great harm. He is silent about those who commit a mortal sin.
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“A place called Illinois”
Wednesday, Nov 13, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sen. Kirk Dillard opined on the choice of Paul Vallas today…
“With all due respect to Governor Quinn and Paul, it is an all, really City Hall-centric choice. And I think that just outside of Chicago is a place called Illinois.”
* Sen. Dillard was in that “place called Illinois” last night. From his Twitter feed…
Not exactly a moderate, centrist group. From a comment posted here yesterday by the group’s president…
Good riddance to Mr. Metcalf. He might be better off looking for work alongside Gabby Giffords after his ill-considered missive.
* More from Dillard, this time on Bruce Rauner…
“I don’t believe Bruce is in align with most Republican values on a lot of things,” Dillard continued. “He’s money only - A RIMO as apposed to a RINO.”
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Nov 13, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
Prosecutors have urged a federal appeals court to reject former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s legal challenges to his conviction and 14-year prison sentence on sweeping corruption charges, arguing in a lengthy filing that Blagojevich’s behavior was anything but the typical political horse-trading he claimed.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office argued that Blagojevich’s attempts to paint himself as a politician engaged in typical negotiations were laughable.
“No matter the price he charges, a public official who sells his office engages in crime, not politics,” the filing stated. “Blagojevich claims that he was convicted based on acts constituting nothing more than common, everyday political horse trading,” the filing went on to say. “In light of the evidence, this is an extraordinary claim.”
* The Question: Since time has passed, have you changed your mind at all about Rod Blagojevich’s conviction and sentence? If so, how? Please explain your answer in comments. Thanks.
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Once more, with feeling
Wednesday, Nov 13, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Bad guy…
He lied and lied and lied.
But after years of living high on the hog as a best-selling author and smooth-talking pitchman, Kevin Trudeau’s fate was sealed Tuesday afternoon in about the time it takes to watch one of his fib-filled weight-loss infomercials.
A federal jury needed less than 45 minutes to find that Trudeau, 50, of Oak Brook, was guilty of criminal contempt of court when he “willfully misrepresented” the contents of his diet book, “The Weight-Loss Cure ‘They’ Don’t Want You to Know About” in three TV ads broadcast in 2006 and 2007.
Though Trudeau shamelessly claimed the book “is not a diet, is not portion control, is not calorie counting” and was a “simple” way to quickly lose up to 100 pounds or more, it in fact required a punishing 500-calorie daily limit; daily injections of a prescription hormone banned for use in diets; multiple colonic irrigation sessions, and strict adherence to dozens of bizarre and quackish rules, evidence showed.
I’m not complaining about this prosecution by the US Attorney’s office. Trudeau is apparently more than deserving, even if he was brought to trial over just three TV ads.
But how about a little, tiny federal effort at punishing the banksters who drove the world economy off a cliff? And I don’t mean singling out one guy who may have lied on a loan application, either.
And how about beefing up the deplorably paltry number of gun violation prosecutions in Chicago?
Trudeau was low-hanging fruit. Reach higher, please.
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Today’s numbers
Wednesday, Nov 13, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Chicago Reporter…
Eight out of 10 misdemeanor cases have been dismissed between 2006 and 2012, shows a Chicago Reporter analysis of records for 1.4 million cases maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County and the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.
Cook County’s dismissal rate is among the highest in the nation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Candace McCoy, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice at The City University of New York, said that’s likely the result of a policing strategy she describes as “rounding up of the usual suspects.”
“Police can round people up that they see as disorderly,” said McCoy, an expert on pretrial processes. “Are these people guilty of anything? We don’t know, do we?”
* NBC Chicago…
[Cara Smith of the Sheriff’s Office] said a quarter of the low-level crime defendants currently in jail will have waited more than 60 days before receiving their verdicts.
* And the Twitters…
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Endangered Goat?
Wednesday, Nov 13, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
The Billy Goat Tavern has been a Chicago landmark for generations and a fixture underneath North Michigan Avenue for almost 50 years. And its owner wants to remain there, regardless of whatever redevelopment goes on above it.
Sam Sianis, who runs the tavern and is the nephew of the Billy Goat’s original owner, William Sianis, said Tuesday that he knew nothing of potential plans for a massive redevelopment disclosed Monday that would involve replacing the Realtor Building at 430 N. Michigan Ave. That project, on property located above the Goat, would at least temporarily displace the tavern from the subterranean location it has called home since 1964.
“I want to stay here,” Sianis said. “I’ve been here for almost 50 years. Like the Realtors, I’m part of Michigan Avenue.”
* Bouechieb is my favorite Chicago bartender…
Bouechieb Khribech has served up drinks for 24 years, and echoes the same sentiment.
“If we have to move and remodel, it’s not going to be the same,” Khribech said.
He’s right about that.
* Tribune editorial board…
Since 1964, the Billy Goat Tavern has been housed below Michigan Avenue, in a part of the Realtor Building not even visible from the sidewalk. It’s a watering “hole” in the truest sense and the very opposite of vanity height. It must be saved.
These days, we see a lot of “simulated authentic experiences.” There’s nothing “simulated” about the Goat. It’s authentic, which is one of the reasons why so many tourists are drawn to it.
* I took my dad to the Goat back in the days when I lived down the street. He’d seen the Saturday Night Live episodes, but still ordered fries. “No fries, cheeps,” I said as we stood at the grill. He chuckled, then out of habit ordered a Coke. “No Coke, Pepsi,” I sternly warned him [and, yes, some dyslexia apparently set in this morning and I appallingly reversed the line]. He didn’t realize the TV schtick was actually true, and was tickled to have the experience. He also loved the cheeseburger. I love them pickles.
Look, things change in business. There are bigger issues in the world. But if Mayor Emanuel allows the Goat to be moved or substantially altered, there’s gonna be heck to pay. Journalists and editors love that place. There’s just nothing else like it. He needs to stand up.
* On the bright side, I’ve tried over the years to come up with a Sun-Times column idea that would get me on Sam’s wall. I may now have one.
Hmm.
* Your recollections and thoughts?
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The great pension game
Wednesday, Nov 13, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A pension reform bill passed by the Illinois General Assembly last week has Gov. Pat Quinn in a bind…
The problem is that the Service Employees International Union doesn’t like the bill. At all. And with Mr. Quinn, SEIU has all kinds of bona fides, having donated at least $2.5 million to his campaign four years ago, when he was fighting for his political life.
Specifically, the park district’s largest union, SEIU Local 73, wants him to veto the bill, saying it unconstitutionally deprives retirees of benefits, and that the measure was changed over the union’s objections.
“I don’t think he should sign it,” said Local 73 President Christine Boardman. “I’m going to ask for a veto. The way they’ve written it, it is unconstitutional.” […]
The real question may be whether Ms. Boardman gets full support from SEIU’s powerful state council. That group’s head, Tom Balanoff, has been traveling abroad and was unavailable for comment. If he and the state council really decide to press the issue with Mr. Quinn — as opposed to, say, just nominally urging a veto — the politics of this matter could become extremely interesting.
Quinn brushed off questions about the bill yesterday, saying he hadn’t received the bill yet.
* More about the bill…
Under that plan, people would work until at least age 58 — up from 50 — and workers would pay 12 percent of their retirement costs — up from 9 percent. The park district would pay more, and cost-of-living adjustments for pensions would change.
* Eden Martin doesn’t like it…
The Park District deal increases annual pension funding dramatically between 2013 and 2019. The District’s funding burden will be held low in the near years but ramped up from $11 million in 2013 to a total of about $91 million in 2019, about eight times the funding only six years earlier.
That’s a far steeper ramp-up than the incline built into the state’s pensions schedules. Another way to say the same thing: It’s a far bigger deferral of the burden.
Why such an enormous funding deferral — and steep ramp-up — making funding (i.e. taxing) more burdensome in the future? Why seek to establish this as the pattern for reforming other Chicago pensions?
The only way to deal with an unbalanced budget is to borrow; and there are two ways to borrow. One is to issue bonds — a practice that has been well documented as problematic in a recent Chicago Tribune series. Another way is to incur obligations now — for services enjoyed now — but fund them in the future. The preeminent example of this is the incurring of pension obligations.
This timing mismatch between benefit and funding means that citizens and taxpayers today do not feel the full cost burden of the services they enjoy today. If they felt that full burden now — through current taxation — they would presumably be less willing to accept and fund them. [Emphasis added.]
And therein lies the game: Refuse to compromise on reform; force real, immediate budgetary pain; turn taxpayers against the workers; bust the pension systems and the unions.
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The Rauner report
Wednesday, Nov 13, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois Review…
One of the state’s most anti-union groups, Contractors for Free Enterprise, the political action affiliate of The Associated Builders & Contractors Illinois Chapter, endorsed Bruce Rauner for Governor Friday.
“ABC is excited to endorse Bruce Rauner for Governor,” said ABC Illinois President Alicia Martin. “Bruce Rauner has demonstrated an understanding of how state government impacts the economic well-being of ABC members and the economic competiveness of our state,” Martin explained. “The election of Bruce Rauner is important to making sure that Illinois turns the corner to attracting and creating Illinois jobs.”
This is definitely a blow to Sen. Bill Brady, who is a non-union housing developer and was backed by the group in 2010. They don’t have a lot of money, though, so the importance of this endorsement is mostly symbolic.
* In other news…
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner won the first ever Lake County straw poll Saturday morning. The results were:
* Rauner - 250
* Dillard - 59
* Rutherford - 53
* Brady -12
Preliminary reports from participants are that the Rauner campaign packed the room, bought a lot of tickets, and bussed people in, including approximately 50 high school students.
The event was held at the Holiday Inn in Gurnee, with tickets $15 each. The event was open to the public, and only ticket holders were allowed to vote.
These straw polls are little more than fundraising events. And while Rauner has come under some criticism for his rent-a-vote activities, that’s what well-organized campaigns do.
The obvious goal here is to make Rauner look somehow inevitable. Winning these straw polls is just one way to do that, and it doesn’t cost all that much if you’ve got Rauner’s money.
* More Rauner connections to the Illinois Policy Institute…
Illinois Policy Institute board member Elizabeth Christie is Rauner’s campaign finance chairman. Bob Costello of the Illinois Opportunity Project – a sister organization to Illinois Policy Institute (which is housed in the same office space) is the treasurer for the PAC running Rauner’s term limits initiative.
He’s got his bases covered. Give him that.
* On the road in Bloomington…
[Rauner] can’t wait to move to Springfield to lead Illinois forward. In fact, he shrugs off Gov. Pat Quinn’s choice of Paul Vallas as his running mate because he calls the Chicago Democrat “the worst governor in America.”
“The choice is all nice but the sad fact is he’s not a leader, he’s not a manager, he’s not a doer, and he’s got the power,” Rauner said. “As long as he’s in charge we’re going down the drain as a state.”
Rauner said he is the only candidate - Democrat or Republican - who is capable of facing off with House Speaker Michael Madigan to get things done in the General Assembly.
* And in the least surprising news of the week…
State Sen. Kirk Dillard Tuesday won support of Republican township chairmen in his home of DuPage County, where the candidate for governor has pinned a lot of his primary election hopes.
Brian Krajewski, vice chairman of the county central committee called a unanimous vote “obvious” in a statement.
“Our township chairmen couldn’t be more thrilled to support Kirk Dillard and Jil Tracy,” Krajewski said. “They are by far the most qualified and prepared to lead our state.”
Dillard once chaired the county party.
* Related…
* Treasurer trying to reunite veterans with lost medals
* Rauner and Dillard lead Cuba Township GOP’s first straw poll
* Rauner woos Chicago Republicans
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A strong case
Wednesday, Nov 13, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As we’ve already discussed, the Illinois Republican Party is taking a look at Paul Vallas’ residency status. Burt Odelson told Phil Kadner pretty much the same thing that he told me yesterday…
Since 2007, the Vallases have owned a house in Palos Heights, although some people question whether Vallas actually lives in Illinois — having spent years in Philadelphia, New Orleans, Haiti, Chile and most recent Connecticut, where he’s superintendent of the Bridgeport schools.
“He most certainly is a resident of Illinois,” said Burton Odelson, an Evergreen Park election attorney who filed an unsuccessful residency challenge against Rahm Emanuel when he ran for Chicago mayor two years ago.
“The difference between Paul and Rahm is that Paul still owns his home in Palos Heights, at 125th and Nashville, and sleeps there when he’s not in Philadelphia, Haiti, New Orleans or wherever,” said Odelson, who quickly added that he’s an attorney for Quinn’s campaign for re-election.
“He (Vallas) pays property taxes on the house. Income taxes in Illinois. Has always maintained his voter registration and driver’s license here,” Odelson said. “Rahm couldn’t even get into his house because he was renting it out. He didn’t have a key. He paid taxes in Washington, D.C.
“Paul’s wife and two sons live in Palos Heights (the Vallases have three sons). But the fact is none of that really matters any more because the (Illinois) Supreme Court decision basically said home is where the heart is. All the residency requirements that used to exist, and there were a laundry list of them, no longer exist because of that decision (in the Emanuel case).”
Odelson said he wouldn’t be surprised if someone challenged Vallas’ residency in court, but “they’re not going to win.”
* Meanwhile, the thing to always remember about the Chicago media is that it’s always about the mayoral angle…
Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday applauded Gov. Pat Quinn for choosing proven “education reformer” Paul Vallas to be his running-mate and said he’s not at all concerned that Vallas could some day run for mayor.
“I supported the governor before he made this decision. I’m going to support the ticket in the upcoming election. And he’s picked somebody [who] has been an education reformer,” the mayor said.
“Paul Vallas has been a leader in Chicago, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Bridgeport, Ct. in education reform, bringing both accountability and choice in education. That has been, I think, something that’s been important. And the governor made the decision to pick Paul Vallas based on his record as being a strong advocate for education reform.”
Emanuel was asked whether he’s concerned about Vallas challenging him in a 2015 race for mayor if he and Quinn lose the 2014 race for governor.
Chicago, you’ll recall, has a one-year residency requirement. Vallas currently lives in the suburbs, so he’d have to move into the city before February 24th, 2014, which is about a month before next March’s statewide primary.
Highly doubtful, to say the least.
Move along, nothing to see here.
* Vallas himself was dismissive of the idea…
Mr. Vallas did rule out a future race for mayor of Chicago, though the prospect of a race between him and incumbent Mayor Rahm Emanuel enthralls some reporters.
“The only mayor’s race I could run for is mayor of Palos Heights,” where he has maintained his legal residence despite stints running schools in Philadelphia, New Orleans and Bridgeport, Conn. “No, I’m not running.”
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Caption contest!
Wednesday, Nov 13, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Gov. Pat Quinn and his new running mate Paul Vallas at breakfast yesterday morning…
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